John Key Claims Victory For New Zealand National Party

Nov 08, 2008

John Key, incoming Prime Minister of New ZealandThe New Zealand National Party leader, John Key, has claimed victory in today’s general election.

Key said the road ahead for New Zealand may be “rocky” and called for national unity. “Now is the time for working together,” he told supporters.

Key announced that he had spoken to minor party leaders and secured their support for forming a new government.

The new Prime Minister entered Parliament in 2002, after a career in investment banking. He became leader of the National Party on November 27, 2006.

Click the Play button to listen to John Key’s victory speech:

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  • New Zealand Election Results


    • Filed Under: ANZUS, Audio, Elections Tagged With: ,

    Labour Defeated In New Zealand Election; Helen Clark Quits Leadership

    Nov 08, 2008

    Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand 1999-2008The New Zealand Labour Party government has been defeated in today’s general election.

    The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has conceded defeat and announced her resignation as Labour leader.

    “My job as leader of the Labour Party is complete,” Clark told supporters.

    Clark’s government was elected in 1999 and served three terms.

    The new Prime Minister will John Key, leader of the National Party.

    Latest figures show Labour’s vote has slumped to 33.77% in the election, whilst the National Party is polling 45.46%. The Greens are on 6.43%.

    Under the mixed multi-member proportional voting system used in New Zealand, the composition of the Parliament is not clear. The National Party will now enter into negotiations with minor parties.

    Click the Play button to listen to Helen Clark’s concession speech:

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    Filed Under: ANZUS, Audio, Elections Tagged With: , ,

    Greens Welcome Obama Election

    Nov 05, 2008

    The Australian Greens have welcomed the election of Senator Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.

    The leader of the Greens, Senator Bob Brown, said the number of political allies of climate change deniers is dwindling. He said Obama’s election raised world hopes for “a fairer, securer, more ecologically sound future”. [Read more...]

    Filed Under: ANZUS, Elections, Greens, Obama Tagged With: , , ,

    Rudd Congratulates Obama On Election Win

    Nov 05, 2008

    The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has congratulated Barack Obama on his election as the 44th President of the United States, praising his “campaign .. about hope”.

    Rudd spoke at a Community Cabinet meeting in Tasmania.

    • Click the Play button to listen to Kevin Rudd comment on Barack Obama’s election:

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    This is the transcript of Kevin Rudd’s press conference:

    RUDD:

    The great democracy that is the United States of America has once again demonstrated to the world the greatness of the democratic idea at work.

    45 Years ago Martin Luther King dreamed of an America where men and women will be judged not on the colour of their skin but on the content of their character.

    Today what America has done is turn that dream into a reality. [Read more...]

    Filed Under: ANZUS, Audio, Audio2008, Elections, Obama, Rudd Government Tagged With: , , ,

    East Timor Troop Numbers To Be Cut

    Oct 22, 2008

    Australia is to reduce the number of troops in East Timor to 650 by early 2009. The announcement was made today by the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon. [Read more...]

    Filed Under: Defence, Foreign Aid, Foreign Policy Tagged With: , ,

    Rudd Meets With Vietnamese Prime Minister

    Oct 13, 2008

    The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has met with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, in Canberra.

    The two leaders held a joint press conference this morning.

    • Click the Play button to listen to the press conference:

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    Filed Under: Audio, Economy, Foreign Policy, Rudd Government, Trade Tagged With: , , ,

    Kevin Rudd Addresses the United Nations General Assembly

    Sep 26, 2008

    The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. This is the text of his speech.

    • Listen to Rudd’s concluding remarks:

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    Transcript of Kevin Rudd’s Address to the U.N. General Assembly.

    We gather together at a time of great challenge to the international system.

    A challenge that reminds us afresh that we live in a world where our interdependence is now greater than at any time before. [Read more...]

    Filed Under: Audio, Audio2008, Climate Change, Foreign Policy, Rudd Government Tagged With: , , , ,

    Paul Keating: Nothing But The Man

    Aug 23, 2008

    This is a two-part video of former Prime Minister Paul Keating’s speech at the Melbourne Writers Festival. He is introduced by the then editor of The Age, Andrew Jaspan.

    Filed Under: Foreign Policy, Keating Government, Video Tagged With: , ,

    Clare O’Neil: Howard’s Terrifying Lack Of Reflection

    Mar 20, 2008

    In March, John Howard visited Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where I am a Master of Public Policy student. Howard began his visit with a formal address on Australia/China relations. About 250 Harvard students and staff assembled in the school’s famous John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum to listen.

    John Howard Addresses the John F Kennedy Jr Forum at Harvard University

    Howard reflected on his term as a period of deepening integration between Australia and China, evidenced by growing trade between the two countries. He framed the relationship in pragmatic terms, which drew a contrast to the familial bonds he described between Australia and the US. [Read more...]

    Filed Under: 2007 Federal Election, Foreign Policy, Howard Government, Liberal Party Tagged With: ,

    Rudd Sends More Peacekeepers To East Timor

    Feb 11, 2008

    More Australian peacekeeping personnel will be sent to East Timor, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced today.

    The decision follows the assassination attempt on the East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta.

    Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Rudd emphasised the significance of an attack on the democratic process in one of Australia’s near neighbours.

    Listen to Kevin Rudd’s press conference:

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    Filed Under: Audio, Foreign Aid, Rudd Government Tagged With: , , ,